F blatt



March 31; 1964 'Y 1.. F. BLATT 3,127,026

WORK EXTRACTOR ARM FOR A PRESS Original Filed May 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,asl I I Z i /2z I l mess i f 63 a1 i 240 $7 I INVENTOR. -E x55 Mama I? Burr l Y Arron/7 March 31, 1964 L. F. BLATT 3,127,026

WORK EXTRACTOR ARM FOR A PRESS Original Filed May 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M, o W

March 31, 1964 BLATT 3,127,026

WORK EXTRACTOR ARM FOR A PRESS Original Filed May 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV EN TOR.

[I'M/l0 F. 80977- March 31, 964 1.. F. BLATT 3,127,025

WORK EXTRACTOR ARM FOR A PRESS Original Filed May 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. LELfl/VO F. BL 477.

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ArraeNEV 3,127,026 WORK EXTRACTOR ARM FGR A PRES Leland F. Blatt, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. (24121 Mound Road, Warren, Mich.) Original application May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,649. Divided and this application Sept. 18, 1962, Ser. No.

8 Claims. (Cl. 214-41) My prior application, Serial No. 108,649, filed May 8, 1961, now Patent Number 3,880,983, of which this application is a divisional, discloses a work extractor arm and a mechanism at the upper or mounting end of such arm for swinging a jaw assembly on the lower end of such arm into and out of the working area of a press; and also discloses a safety locking means as part of such mechanism for safely locking the arm in a position where the jaw assembly is safely held or locked firmly out of the press working area. This application is directed specifically to such safety locking means. One form of same is shown in the appended drawings.

in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present work piece extractor arm in inoperative position and as attached to a press, fragmentarily shown.

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but on an increased scale for better illustration of details.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4, illustrating the safety locking mechanism in locking position, full lines; and unlocked, dotted lines.

FIG. 6 is a view like part of FIG. 5, showing parts in various unlocked (full lines) and moving positions (dotted lines).

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a locking shaft per se.

FIG. 8 is a section view on line 8 8 of FIG. 7.

It is understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present extractor arm is shown in a normal Waiting position, and includes the body 11 defined by a pair of spaced upright side plates 12 and an angular cylinder support plate 13 interposed therebetween and fixedly secured thereto by a series of fasteners 14, there being additional spacers l5 interposed between the plates 12 and secured thereto by cap screws 16, FIG. 1.

An undercut notch 17 is machined through upper portions of the plates 12 so that they can be supportably hung or mounted upon cross bar 18, which forms a part of the adjustable press mount, generally indicated at 19, PEG. 2, adapted to be secured to the press by fasteners 29.

An additional spacer 21 between plates 12 carries a transverse set screw 22, FIG. 2, engaging cross bar 13, for holding the body side plate assembly firmly against the upper hanger cross bar.

The hanger assembly also includes a lower cross bar 122, which receives the boltdown screws 24, which extend through the angle clips 23, secured upon the outer side edges of the respective plates 12, completing the mounting assembly of the body 11. The mount 19 includes a frame section 25, including cross bars 13 and 122, pivotally mounted as at 26 within the mounting assembly 19, with the amount of rotation controlled by the arcuate slot 28, formed in the side plates 29 of the mount 19, which cooperatively receives the securing bolts 27 anchored to the movable portion of the mount 25.

Swing Plate Assembly The swing plate assembly, generally indicated at 36},

FIG. 4, includes a pair of upright parallel spaced plates 31, including tubular spacer 32 at its upper end, through which extends the bearing shaft 33 pinned thereto at 34 with respective ends of shaft 33 supportably journaled within roller bearing assemblies 37 secured through body plates 12 and respectively covered by caps 33.

The central location of swing plate assembly 30 is maintained between side plates 12 by wear washers 35 which bear against bosses 36 upon the interior surfaces of plates 12. Covers 38 for the bearings are retained upon plates 12 by cap screws 39 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The swing plate assembly, including the parallel spaced plates 31, also includes between the said plates the spacers 4t) and 41., FIGS. 1 and 4.

Support Assembly Positioned within, and extending from the swing plate assembly 39 is a support assembly generally indicated at 49 and adjustably secured thereto by a series of variably spaced fasteners 56.

As shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a group of positioning apertures for the securing of the swing plate assembly 3% and the positioning of the support assembly 49 within the swing plate assembly 30 and to allow for angular adjustment, said fastening means also including a series of opposed dowel pins 51, FIG. 4.

Between the pair of spaced plates 49, there is secured an elongated sleeve 52 with counterbores at its opposite ends to receive the longitudinally spaced bushings 53 retained therein by the snap rings 54, FIG. 4.

Telescoping Arm Assembly A telescoping arm assembly, including the tubular arm 55, is slidably positioned through the said bearings 53 and extends downwardly from the support assembly 49, FIG. 1 and carries at its lower end the split clamp collar 5d employing a pair of cap screws 57 for adjustably securing the mount arm 58, which is slidably provisioned within the telescoping arm 55, and fixedly secured thereto.

Bracket 59 at the lower end of the mount arm 58 receives and has secured thereto the lower end of the adjusting screw 66, whose upper free end portion extends through the auxiliary bracket 62 on clamp 56 and is adjustably secured thereto by the nuts 63', FIG. 1. This provides a means of effecting a longitudinal adjustment of the mount arm 58 with respect to the telescoping arm 55, after which the assembly is fixedly secured together.

The bracket assembly 59 includes, or has connected thereto, split holding clamp assembly 63, which supports the transversely arranged power roller automation jaw assembly, generally indicated at 64.

Jaw Assembly The jaw assembly includes the hanger rod 65, which is horizontally disposed and adjustably secured within the clamp 63. The opposite end of the hanger rod carries the mount 66 supporting the pneumatic cylinder 67, which has a reciprocal piston and attached piston rod 68. The mount 66 has slidably provisioned theret'nrough the elongated guide rod 71, with stop 72 at one end, and which at its opposite end carries the jaw head 69 with the fixed jaw 70.

Arranged below the fixed jaw 70 is the angularly movable jaw 73, which through a suitable linkage, is connected with the piston rod 68 for controlling opening and closing of the jaw 73 relative to the jaw 70 for gripping the work in the press to be removed therefrom.

The structure of the present jaw is more fully set forth in my pending patent application, Serial No. 803,424, filed April 1, 1959, entitled Power Operated J aw Assembly, and now Patent No. 3,013,835, dated December 19, 1961, further details as to the operation thereof 3 are omitted. Suffice to say, however, that in the position of the jaw part as shown in FIG. 1, initial activation of the cylinder 67 by application of air pressure to the left hand port 124 causes the piston rod 63 to move to the right, effecting longitudinal movement to the right of the jaw head 69 until the stop 72 engages the body 66, thereafter further longitudinal movement of the piston rod 68 causes the jaw '73 to close relative to the jaw 71 after which the present extractor arm is activated for withdrawing a workpiece from a press, as hereinafter described in further detail.

The telescoping arm 55, through the arm mount 58, clamp assemblies 59-63 movably mount and support the power operated jaw for the purpose of withdrawing a workpiece from a press along the path of movement, generally indicated at 97, FIG. 1, hereafter described.

The said telescoping arm 55 is retained and guidably positioned by the link 75, shown in FIG. 4, which is pivotally connected as at '76 to the clevis 74, which is fixedly secured to reciprocal piston rod 79 connected with the air cylinder 81 hereafter described, particularly shown in FIG. 2, as well as FIG. 1.

The link 75 is pivotally retained with respect to clevis 78 by the follower shaft 80, which extends transversely therethrough. The air cylinder 81 includes a series of tie rods 82, FIG. 1, by which the said cylinder is secured to the cylinder mounting plate 13 for effecting controlled reciprocal movements of piston rod 79 and corresponding reciprocal movements of the telescoping arm 55, as hereafter described.

On each side of the clevis 73 there is provided a wear washer 83, which slidably locates between the respective side plates 31 of the swing plate assembly. These washers also space upon the follower shaft 80, a first pair of roller followers, or plain rollers 8 which are inovably positioned within the opposed pair of elongated guide slots 85, formed in the side plates 31.

A second set of roller followers, or rollers 86, are journaled and retained upon the follower shaft 86 by washers 37' and fastening nut 83 and are adapted for movable positioning within the elongated slots 87 formed in the body plates 12, which slots 8'7 are angularly related with respect to the swing plate slots 85 for the purpose hereafter described in effecting pivotal movements of the swing plate assembly.

The piston rod 7) and the relative attached parts thereon, are fully extended in a normal position shown in FIG. 1. The inside set of roller followers 84 nest on and at the bottom of the swing plate slots 35. The outer set of roller followers 86 are arranged within the body plate slots 87 so as to provide a clearance 911 in the fully extended normal position.

To assure adjustable rigidity of the arm assembly 55 in the normal pickup position, a set of take up blocks 91 are adjustably fastened within elongated slots 9b in the body plates 12 and adjustably secured thereto by the fasteners 93, which extend through elongated slots in the said blocks 91.

Set screw 95 is adapted for operatively and adjustably engaging the takeup blocks 91, of which there is one on each of the outer surfaces of the respective body plates 12, for registry with the corresponding follower roller 86 when it is positioned adjacent the lower end of the slot 87, and these are adapted to take up and compensate for any future wear of the slot 87, as at point 96.

Operation In view of the angular relation between the respective slots 85 and 87, if the piston rod 79 of cylinder 81 is caused to retract, carrying therewith the clevis 78 and follower roller assembly $tl8486, the said rollers 84 and 86 will respectively react against the sides of the plates 31 and 12 within the respective above described slots, and a swinging action is transmitted to the swing assembly 30 by its follower rollers 84.

At the same time, the telescoping arm 55 and the parts connected thereto, through the action of the clevis '74, are drawn upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1, or in effect hecome shortened relative to support plate assembly 4-9. Therefore, as the swing plate assembly 3% swings through an are indicated by the dotted line 97, FIG. 1, the telescoping arm 55 becomes shorter, relative to the main pivot point 33 of the swing plate assembly 30.

Accordingly, any mechanism secured at the end of the telescoping arm 55, such as the jaw assembly 64 and connected workpiece from a press, for example, instead of inseribing a circular are 128 from the main pivot 33, inscribes a new path 97, as controlled by the angular relationship of the slots 87 and and the withdrawing movement of the arm assembly 55.

At the start of the follower roller movement, a lift 93 is applied to the arm 55, after which there is defined a straight line movement at an angle relative to horizontal as shown at )9 which in turn merges into an are 1%. During this movement, arm 5'5 reversed direction as slot shifts so that a workpiece gripped by jaw 64 fastened to arm 5'5 turns over 180.

Safety Lock Mechanism When the swing plates 31 reach the top of their swing, as shown in full lines in FIGS. 5 and 6, as limited by cross shaft 20 reaching ends of slots 87 in body plates 12, the edges of plates 31 have passed through milled slots M2, formed transversely through lockup shaft 193 as shown in FIG. 6.

However, when lock shaft 163 is rotated 180, controlled by lock collar 1 34 and handle 106, parts of shaft 163 now fill notches 101, as in FIG. 5. Accordingly, swing plates 31 are retained safely in locked up position (FIG. 5) until released by rotating the lock shaft 1193 to release position, FIG. 6.

As best shown in FIG. 4, lock shaft 103, with the 180' slots N2 therein, connects and is pivotally journaled at its ends in body plates 12. Lock collar 164 has a set screw 167, an associated spring 1&8, and a ball 109, which provide a detent assembly, FIG. 4, for indexing lock shaft 103, with ball 1% registering with one of the two indexing notches 3'52 of lock shaft 1413, FIG. 7.

Interlock Switch Mount Assembly The interlock switch mount assembly is generally indicated at 11 1, FIG. 3, and provides a means for adjustably mounting the limit switch 116. For this purpose there is provided an elongated tubular body 111 anchored to one of the body plates 12, as by fasteners 112. Elongated screw 113 is journaled through the tubular housing 111 and retained against relative longitudinal movement therein and is rotated by means of a suitable handle 114 at one end.

Elongated nut 115 is threaded upon the screw 113 within the housing 111, extends through an elongated slot in the upper surface of the cylindrical housing 111 for ecuring to the limit switch 116. It is noted that the follower shaft iiil has extended end portions at 118 for operative contact with the control arm 117 for activating the said limit switch on relative rearward movement of the arm assembly and associated follower mechanism.

Operational Sequence The extractor arm, as shown in FIG. 1, is in a normal waiting position. The arm operating double acting air cylinder 81 is connected to a solenoid operated valve section 119. Cylinder port 120 is pressurized while port 121 is open to exhaust. Power roller automation jaw 69 is attached in its hanger 65, the hanger being adjustably attached to mount arm assembly 59-63. The double acting air cylinder 67 of the jaw is connected to a solenoid operated, 4-way valve, 122. Port 123 is pressurized, and port 124 is open to exhaust. This maintains the jaw in a retracted waiting position to the left of the position shown in FIG. 1.

When the machine is energized through the control valves 122, port 123 in FIG. 1 is connected to exhaust and port 124 is pressurized. The jaw arm assembly moves forward to the position shown in FIG. 1, and the jaw 73 closes gripping the part but after the rod 71 has moved the full length so that the stop 72 engages the housing 66. Thereafter the solenoid control valve assembly 119 is activated supplying air pressure to the port 121 of the cylinder 81, connecting port 120 to exhaust.

The piston rod 79 of cylinder 81 starts to retract with the clevis 78 carrying the follower assembly rollers 84 and 86 along with telescoping arm 55 and the relative attached assemblies. Swing plate assembly 30, with support plate assembly 49 starts to swing at the same time the telescoping arm begins to shorten, creating lift. This swing and lift combination controls the jaw pickup point to now inscribe a straight line 99 inclined relative to the horizontal and finally depending upon thhe slot relationship of side plates 12 to the swing plate assembly 30, as the action continues the swing, the telescoping arm reverses direction.

The purpose of the reverse was to impart a reverse inertia on the part held in the jaw. As the end of the follower shaft 118 contacts roller arm 117 of the limit switch 116; the valve 122 is energized, or activated, so as to reverse the air flow to the respective opposite ends of the cylinder 67 applying pressure fluid to port 123, causing the arm 64 to drop the part being removed from the press.

The above described adjustability of the press mount 19 relative to pivot 26 and the arcuate control slots 28 thus establish a predetermined angularity of the complete assembly suspended from the press mount and secured thereto. The purpose of varying this angularity is for regulating the contour of the paths of withdrawing movement of the work from the press, such as to one of the intermediate paths indicated in dotted lines at 126 and 127 Likewise the above adjustability factor of the swing plate assembly 30 relative to the support assembly 49 by the interchange of fasteners 50, also makes provision for a regulation of the control paths of withdrawing movement of the work engaging member 64.

The bottom path, designated at 128 indicates the type of path which may be achieved in the prior art, namely a constant radius. It has been described above that one of the primary objects of invention is to avoid a constant radius in the withdrawing movement and to achieve initially a lift, as indicated, the other control paths shown followed by a straight line rectilinear movement and terminating in an arcuate movement which is achieved by the construction and operation of the above fully described.

As above described, the angular relation between slots 87 in plates 12 and slots 85 in plates 31 determine the pivotal movement of the swing plate assembly 30. Variation in this angularity will effect the final compound movement of clamp arm 64, taking into consideration the initial retracting movement of the telescoping arm assembly 55.

It is contemplated also that the shape of the slots 85 and 87 may be varied for the production of differential movements of the swing plate assembly and associated jaw assembly. For example, the slots 85 and 87, and particularly the slots 85 may be arcuate or semi-circular.

Conclusion From the foregoing, it will readily be seen that the work extractor arm herein disclosed essentially comprises a body 12, means at its upper end for supporting it upon the press; a swing 31 pivotally mounted at 33 at the upper end of the swing on the body and depending therefrom; an arm 55 slidably mounted at its upper end on said swing and depending therefrom to move an elongated work engaging jaw assembly adjustably mounted at the lower end of the arm and extending horizontally for reciprocal projection into the press. The arm 55 moves upwardly and downwardly. The arm 55 is mounted in a tube 52 in turn 6 mounted in a pair of support plates 49 adjustably secured to the swing 31 and in essence support 49 forms a part of the swing 31.

The device further includes a motor 81 mounted on the body which includes an upwardly and downwardly reciprocating rod 79 pivotally connected at its lower free end to the upper end of the arm and to the swing. The means for establishing such a pivotal connection includes the cross pin 80. The latter has four rollers on it for guiding the swing 31 and the arm 55 as they are moved upwardly by the motor acting through its rod 79. These rollers ride in a vertical slot 85 in the swing 31 and also ride in a nearly vertical slot 87 of the body 12. Slot 87 in the body is at an acute angle to the slot 35 of the swing. The swing rotates 90 clockwise as shown in FIGv 3 so that the slot 85 moves from the vertical lower position to the horizontal upper position and the cross pin 80 moves in the path determined by slot 87 of the fixed body 12 for rotating the swing 90 and also for lifting the upper end of the arm 55.

The arm 55 is itself a tube as well as being mounted in a tube 52 with the latter mounted in the swing, or more specifically mounted in a support part 49 of such swing.

Further, it will be seen that in the device hereof, swing 30, made up of plates 31, is a member having substantially vertical stop edges, namely the edges containing notches 101, and the lock is a cross shaft 103 for holding swing 30 in its extreme rearwardly swing position, FIG. 5. Lock shaft 103 has its axis parallel to and spaced upwardly from the axis of shaft 33 which pivots swing 30. Shaft 103 is thus so located that its parts can fill edge notches 101 of swing 30 when swing 30 is swung upwardly and rearwardly to a horizontal position, with the edges of notches 101 and slots 85 also horizontal, as in FIG. 5. Notches 101 provide abutments for stops 105.

Shaft 103 is manually rotatable on its axis as by the L-shaped removable handle 106 fitted in hole 301 and has stop parts 105 formed by milled slots 102 and can thus be movable manually to either of two positions, as determined by spring detent means 107-108109 in cover block 104 engaging sockets 302 of shaft 103. In one position, stops 105 at slots 102 fill notches 101 and block swing 30. In another position, stops 105 clear notches 101 of swing 30.

Since swing 30 comprises two parallel spaced plates, stop shaft 103 is provided with two equally spaced slots 102 to clear the two swing plates, and two stop parts 105 to fit in notches 101 and block swing 30 against movement, holding it safely with the lower law assembly remote from the working area of the press.

When stops 105 clear swing notches 101, swing 30 can move freely and normally to and from the horizontal position of FIG. 5; but when stops 105 fill swing notches 101, as in FIG. 5, they lock swing 30 in such horizontal position to hold jaw 70-73 safely out of the press to enable the dies thereof to be serviced.

Lock shaft 103 is a sturdy unyielding lock means, well supported at its ends in body 12. Its two stops 105 align with the two swing plates and cooperate with them. Rotation of shaft 103 manually aligns or misaligns stops 105 with notches 101 of swing plates 31.

I claim:

1. In a work extractor arm for a press; a body; means at its upper end for supporting it upon said press; a swing pivotally mounted at its upper end on said body and depending therefrom; an arm slidably mounted at its upper end on said swing and depending therefrom to move upwardly and downwardly; an elongated work engaging jaw assembly adjustably mounted at the lower free end of said arm and extending horizontally for reciprocal projection into said press; a motor mounted on the body including an upwardly and downwardly reciprocating rod pivotally connected at its lower free end to the upper end of said arm and to said swing; and means for guiding the swing and the arm as they are moved upwardly by the motor; said means comprising a cross pin connected to the upper end of the arm riding in a vertical slot in the swing and also riding in a nearly vertical slot of the body, at an acute angle to the slot of the swing; whereby upward movement of the reciprocating rod of the motor lifts the jaw assembly and rearwardly swings said swing on said body to produce in said jaw assembly successively rectilinear and rotary movements; said swing having a substantially vertical stop edge remote from its pivotal mounting; in combination with the foregoing, a lock for engaging such edge and thus holding the swing in its extreme rearwardly swing position and holding the jaw assembly remote from the press; said lock comprising a cross shaft parallel to the axis of pivotal mounting of the swing and positioned well above it in a location such that rotation of said cross shaft on its axis alternatively can place a stop part of such shaft against an abutment part of the swing edge to hold the swing stopped in a desired locked position with the jaw assembly remote from the press; or remove said stop part from said abutment to release the swing edge so that the swing can move freely past the cross shaft and freely move the jaw assembly to and from the press.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the stop part of the shaft is formed by transversely slotting the shaft part way through it, the slot providing clearance for the swing edge when the shaft is in one position and the remainder of the shaft, at the slot, providing the stop part when the shaft is in another position.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the swing edge abutment part is formed by notching the shaft edge so that such notch can receive the stop part of the shaft when the shaft is positioned with the stop part nearer the swing edge.

4. A device according to claim 1 including a handle for manually rotating the shaft into and out of its locking and release positions.

5. A device according to claim 2 including a handle for manually rotating the shaft into and out of its locking and release positions.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the swing member comprises two parallel horizontally spaced plates and the cross shaft has two slots and stop parts spaced equally to the plates.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the stop part of the shaft is formed by transversely slotting the shaft part way through it, the slot providing clearance for the swing edge when the shaft is in one position and the remainder of the shaft, at the slot, providing the stop part when the shaft is in another position.

8. A device according to claim 6 wherein the swing edge abutment part is formed by notching the shaft edge so that such notch can receive the stop part of the shaft when the shaft is positioned with the stop part nearer the swing edge.

No references cited. 

1. IN A WORK EXTRACTOR ARM FOR A PRESS; A BODY; MEANS AT ITS UPPER END FOR SUPPORTING IT UPON SAID PRESS; A SWING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ITS UPPER END ON SAID BODY AND DEPENDING THEREFROM; AN ARM SLIDABLY MOUNTED AT ITS UPPER END ON SAID SWING AND DEPENDING THEREFROM TO MOVE UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY; AN ELONGATED WORK ENGAGING JAW ASSEMBLY ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED AT THE LOWER FREE END OF SAID ARM AND EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY FOR RECIPROCAL PROJECTION INTO SAID PRESS; A MOTOR MOUNTED ON THE BODY INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY RECIPROCATING ROD PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER FREE END TO THE UPPER END OF SAID ARM AND TO SAID SWING; AND MEANS FOR GUIDING THE SWING AND THE ARM AS THEY ARE MOVED UPWARDLY BY THE MOTOR; SAID MEANS COMPRISING A CROSS PIN CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF THE ARM RIDING IN A VERTICAL SLOT IN THE SWING AND ALSO RIDING IN A NEARLY VERTICAL SLOT OF THE BODY, AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE SLOT OF THE SWING; WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE RECIPROCATING ROD OF THE MOTOR LIFTS THE JAW ASSEMBLY AND REARWARDLY SWINGS SAID SWING ON SAID BODY TO PRODUCE IN SAID JAW ASSEMBLY SUCCESSIVELY RECTILINEAR AND ROTARY MOVEMENTS; SAID SWING HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL STOP EDGE REMOTE FROM ITS PIVOTAL MOUNTING; IN COMBINATION WITH THE FOREGOING, A LOCK FOR ENGAGING SUCH EDGE AND THUS HOLDING THE SWING IN ITS 